Funeral Sermon for Dick Scott

Here is the funeral sermon for Dick Scott.

In the name of our Lord, and Dick’s Lord, Jesus, amen. Simple yet complex. A real mixture of different components. Those brief thoughts can sum up Richard William Scott, but they also comprise the living and active Word of God. In the Scripture lessons that were read this morning we are blessed to hear how life is more than what we perceive it to be. And for that, we say thanks be to God.

Dick’s daughter Sue read familiar words from the book of Ecclesiastes, words that embrace the whole of life, from the time of our birth to the time of our death. If you only met Dick in November of 2009, you’d probably think that his life was pretty miserable- doctors visits, bad news, a bleak horizon. But that was only for a few months. And many of you know that Dick and Joanne were blessed to have multiple visits with their entire immediate family. Sitting with Dick and Joanne in their home, I recall warm smiles and funny stories. For sure there has been weeping and there has been laughing.

So when we consider what we knew of Dick and what our experiences were with him, we recognize the fullness of his life. He delighted to protect his family, to shield and shelter them from harm and danger, from the arrow that flies by day and the pestilence that stalks in the night. Dick desired to take care of his family and provide for them. Part of Dick’s desire was in the simple provision of house and home, food and drink, clothing and shoes. And that protection extended to the way he patiently and lovingly taught his children. He would demonstrate how something was done, and he would let his children try it for them selves, try to figure out how things were put together, how they functioned. In doing that, Dick was ‘protecting’ his children by giving them the tools they would need for their living.

Dick’s desire to shelter his family and provide for them was done as a response to the shelter Dick had received from the Lord. His son Mike read Psalm 91 for us moments ago. Psalm 91 is the soldier’s psalm, I pray with obvious reasons. The Lord God is the refuge and fortress for his children. Whether the thickness of our walls is measured in feet or in inches, the safety of those walls is irrelevant if the Most High God is not present. For the soldier, when they go out on patrol, when they fly their airplane, when their ship leaves port, the unseen member of their platoon, of their flight crew, of the navigation squad is Jesus. Dick was a veteran. Mike served in the military. This psalm has particular meaning for the family and the words of this beautiful hymn have been fulfilled in their lives.

Dick called to the Lord and the Lord answered. Dick was in trouble, these last few months and at other times in his life, being the ‘man of the house’ when he was 14 years old, Dick was in trouble and God was with him. On Feb. 14th, God rescued Dick and bestowed great honor on him. At this moment, Dick enjoys long life in the Lord’s presence and with his own eyes Dick is seeing his salvation.

Dick and his family prayed the soldier’s psalm. They lived it too. But I don’t think any of us would label the members of the Scott family as warlike, fierce, pugilistic, tyrannical, or any other such synonym. This is where we might use that phrase that Dick and his family were lovers, not fighters. We will not pretend, we will not fool ourselves, they had their moments of squabbling and bickering and disagreements. You’re going to have something to disagree about when you’re married for 54 years and you have four children. Joanne knew about Dick’s mistress, the computer, and his iTouch and all the other gadgets. But all the disagreements or fights even, came from love, from bearing, hoping, and enduring all things. An older way of talking about endurance and patience is to say long-suffering. A lot of life and a lot of love, a lot of celebrating and a lot of long-suffering was packed into these 75 years. And all of those memories will remain. Faith, hope, and love abide for us, with us, and in us, but the greatest of these is the accepting love, the welcoming love, the forgiving love, the merciful love that Dick reflected.

Love did not originate with Dick. It came to Dick and he passed it on. I fear that my remarks might embarrass this faithful man who always seemed more concerned with others than with himself. Dick was more concerned with His Lord than with the latest gadget. Dick’s inquisitive curiosity led him to learn about the satisfying love of God.

If Dick was a ‘complex’ individual, a loving fighter, a crying laugher, or a silent speaker, one who was energetic and still all at the same time…all of that is simply a reflection of the Lord God Almighty.

It was a still December evening as the shepherds huddled together and as a young lady labored when God’s messenger announced to the shepherds that salvation had been born. And the stillness was shattered as the whole heavenly host energetically broke into song: the Redeemer is living! The Redeemer is wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth. The sad energy surrounding the trial, the energy the torturous soldiers put into whipping Jesus, the energy of the dying thief to pile insults on Jesus, all of that was stilled as Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’, as he breathed his last and commended His spirit to His Father. I’m certain the stillness was crushing as the faithful followers of Jesus wondered what would come next. The stillness was likely pervasive as the women went to the tomb early on Sunday morning, carrying spices to properly finish the burial of Jesus.

But the steadfast, loving energy of God had shattered the stillness. The rock was rolled away. The Redeemer was living. The Redeemer was loving. It was this energetic stillness that captivated Dick, that led him to the gift of baptism the day before he and Joanne were united in marriage. The energetic and still love of God is what filled Dick to pass that love on to his children and grandchildren, to his friends and coworkers, to his beloved brothers and sisters in the faith.

The love of God the Father, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the enduring fellowship of the Holy Spirit helps us cut through all the complexities. It remains true that we are individuals. It remains true that our likes and dislikes will change. It remains true that at the same time we are sinners and saints. It remains true that Jesus Christ has taken all of our sin upon himself in order that we would be redeemed.

Let us pray…Eternal God, send me a resurrection when everything looks dead and buried. Send me light when the night seems too long. Send me spring when the cold and frozen season seems endless. Send me an idea when my mind is empty. Send me a thing to do when I am just waiting around. Send me a new friend when I am alone. Send me peace when I am afraid. Send me a future when it looks hopeless. Send me your resurrection when I die. To the only God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be all the glory alone, amen.